OM’s Annual Cover Model Contest Winner: Valencia Jones

Introducing OM 2021 Cover Model Winner Valencia Jones

PHOTOGRAPHY BY RALPH DEMILIO SHOT ON LOCATION AT MAGNOLIA ART XCHANGE

CURRENT OCCUPATION:

Owner & Master Natural Hair Stylist at Mandisa Ngozi Art & Braiding Gallery, Florida’s first all natural hair salon. Trichologist, natural hair educator and daily motivator.

FAMILY:

I’m grateful to have a close-knit family. My mother, Bernadette Jones, has always instilled the value of sticking together and being supportive to one another as family. Those values have been very beneficial to my business. It has been a blessing to own and operate www.Mandisa-Ngozi.com for over 25 years with my sister Denise Jones and my only child/daughter, Chikodi X.

INTERESTS:

I enjoy getting up every morning, catching up with my regular clients and getting to know the new ones, all while taking care of their crowns. Nothing beats seeing them smile when I’m done. I also enjoy traveling and spending quality time with my fiancé and family.

ON MODELING:

I enjoy modeling and taking pictures. It comes with the nature of my business. It’s an absolute pleasure to be stopped and asked about my hair – it gives me the opportunity to elaborate and educate about hair care and the significance it has in identity and culture.

FAVORITE THING ABOUT FASHION:

Fashion is like wearable art. It gives you the opportunity to visually express yourself. I enjoy wearing African attire. I like bright, bold colors, prints, and patterns. African attire embodies all of that, and I feel royal when wearing it.

MOTTO:

"If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together." – African Proverb That motto reflects the appreciation I have for all of those who took the time to vote for my presence on the cover of Ocala Magazine.

GRIMSLEY-GREENWAY Wedding

Karla Grimsley married Shane Greenway

Bride: Karla Grimsley Groom: Shane Greenway Bride’s hometown: Lakeland Florida Groom’s hometown: Jacksonville Beach, Florida Parents: Bride, the late Frank and Alda Phillips; Groom, Larry and Judy Greenway Photography: Zach Hess Design: Beasley’s Floral in Cocoa Beach Ring: By Agape Diamonds Dress: Beach Casual (dress actually came from the Interfaith Thrift Store and was altered by one of our volunteers) Floral: Bouquets were done by bride’ and her daughters, Kayla and Lacey Venue: Cocoa Beach at Discovery Beach Resort (Grimsley family has vacationed there for 30 years, so it was a special location for us to make this memory.) It was a very small and simple wedding with 30 people, including us. How we met: Ummmm … Tinder Place of Engagement: On the Downtown Square during Light

up Ocala — just as the lights came on. First toast followed across the street at Morevino! Honeymoon: Our “COVID honeymoon” was at Cocoa Beach, but our real honeymoon is going to be a trip to Greece as soon as things are a little safer in light of the pandemic. Special touches: A sand ceremony during which family members and special friends added colored sand to a boxed frame with my parents’ photo in the middle. Each layer was symbolic of the individual roles of our life together — our parents, our children, our savior Jesus Christ, our family and close friends. The bride’s children stood with us and the groom’s father officiated the ceremony. It truly was an all-inclusive but very simple wedding. Unusual Happenings: The ceremony was in front of the resort, and when we turned around to be announced to our guests we looked up and saw that the balconies were full of unintended (but very welcomed) guests, who watched from their balconies and cheered for us.